Dealing With The Fear Of Driving

By Peter Parker

Did you know that a lot of people suffer with the fear of driving a car? Yes it's true a lot of people out there have this very same fear. It is not just you that has this fear but a lot of people.Maybe you're scared to just drive in a certain situation or maybe you're scared to drive period. Either way the fear can be overcome. Maybe you're scared to drive in traffic and if that's the case this fear can also be overcome.

First figure out why are you scared to drive a car in traffic and then take steps to overcome the fear. Are you scared of the cars around you or are you scared you may make a mistake? Did you know that being scared while driving can cause you to make a mistake? Being scared is dangerous because you have poor judgment and this can cause an accident all by itself.So just relax while you are driving in traffic and that can really help you get over your fear. If you just follow the rules of the road and drive your car properly you won't have any accidents. You do not have to be afraid as that is not a good feeling. Just calm down and be careful and you will be fine.

I always thought I was the only person in the world that had driving anxiety, everybody else around me was always looking at it as a mundane activity that has no frightening aspects.Thankfully, there's the internet! And after researching it I discovered that many people suffer from driving anxiety and there are a lot of things you can do to overcome it.

Listen to soothing music while you're driving -- Music has great effect on our mood. Find some music that you can relax to and play it while you're driving. It will lower your overall stress levels and your will enjoy your ride more.Get a driving buddy -- To do things together is usually less scary than to do them by yourself. Many people have a fear of driving alone. Ask a friend or family member to accompany you while you drive. That way you'll build up your confidence and experience less fear.

Take deep breaths -- If you're ever driving and start to experience one of the many symptoms of your phobia (sweating, stomach aches, nausea), take a few deep breaths. Inhale and exhale slowly. Deep breaths steady the heart beat and help you to relax.Always remember that you can overcome your driving phobia. Take the first step and make a firm decision to get over your fears and start on a new road.

Are you keeping your fear of driving a secret? You're not alone. Many people who share your fear often keep it a secret, afraid of being ridiculed for something that isn't normally heard of. Perhaps this is also the reason why no one from your friends and family know about it. It must be difficult to be surrounded by people who talk about driving as a normal part of their lives when the mere thought of it makes you feel uneasy. Then again, there's really nothing to be embarrassed about. You can talk your way out when getting over the fear of driving.

Of course, such a condition comes with a number of disadvantages and can negatively affect a person's lifestyle. There are times when it is unavoidable to drive alone, which can be detrimental to the driver. The fear of driving alone can result in experiencing a panic attack, feelings of anxiety, stress, nausea and even physical ailments such as headache, abdominal pain and a rapid heartbeat. Dealing with some or all of these symptoms can make focusing on driving nearly unbearable. In order to avoid such experiences, individuals that are scared to drive alone will turn to alternative methods like making sure they have at least one passenger in the car with them each time they get behind the wheel. Unfortunately, this is not a realistic method. Public transportation is another option but still does not address the problem.

Your subconscious mind stores everything you have ever been exposed to along with every thought and feeling you have ever had. Sometimes your subconscious will fixate on something from your past, and amplify or exaggerate the thoughts or feelings connected to it. Therefore, you may feel your phobia is irrational when in fact it may be just a memory that has been blown way out of proportion.

Believe it or not, there are different types of fear of driving. Not all people that deal with this condition experience it in the same way, nor are they scared of the same things. For those that have a fear of driving at night, their worries are not an issue until it comes time for the sun to go down. While some may think that being scared to drive at night is the lesser of two evils and less of a problem than being scared of driving overall, this version of driving phobia has a set of problems all its own.

Although being able to drive with no issues during the day is fine, avoiding nighttime driving can still become disruptive to a person's lifestyle. While those that avoid driving altogether turn to the options of public transportation and friends/family members to drive them around, trying these alternatives could prove to be more difficult when it comes to nighttime. Not all modes of public transportation are available all night, which could leave you stranded if you need to go somewhere late at night. Additionally, your friends and family members may not feel like getting up in the middle of the night just to drive you around.The reason why some drivers may have a fear of driving at night may be due to a traumatic experience that happened at night while they were behind the wheel. Common examples include hitting another vehicle, running into something (pole, center divide, etc.) or even hitting an animal. From that point on, the driver will end up associating being on the road at night with that particular experience.